Chapter 35 - Dragon

Every so often, when passing through the plains of Musahi, Sesshomaru would stop by the Valley of Ryukotsusei. The last great battle that Toga had survived. The dragon had terrorized the villages nearby for decades, prior to Toga putting an end to the formidable foe. They were heading back toward the mountains, when Sesshomaru sensed something. He stopped, turning toward the path that led to the Valley of Ryukotsusei.

Hm.

"We're going this way." He announced, waiting for A-un, with Rin riding side saddle, and Jaken waddling on the ground behind.

Sesshomaru had walked this path many times over the years, wondering how a demon such as Ryukotsusei, could have been the end of his father. The dragon had been powerful, incredibly so. But Toga had defeated so many foes in his years. It still was unfathomable to Sesshomaru.

A-un walked ahead, the sound of his heavy footfalls echoing on the rocks as they walked into the valley at the base of the mountain. The valley was filled with a heavy mist that swirled around them as they walked deeper.

"Ah… why are we going this way Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken asked from behind.

"InuYasha has been here."

"What?! Here?!"

Sesshomaru did not add, that it did not seem to be a recent visit. The scent was so faint, it was almost nonexistent. Some time later, they came to the innermost part of the valley, where it ended in a cliff, overlooking what had been Ryukotsusei's lair.

A-un stepped up to the edge and stopped, making lowing sounds of discomfort. From her perch on the dragon's back, Rin peered around trying to see.

"Where are we now?" She asked.

Jaken, always pleased to share his knowledge, responded. "The place where a giant demon known as Ryukotsusei, was sealed into a dormant state. Strange though, that it was completely destroyed like this."

Sesshomaru stepped up to the cliff edge, his eyes roamed the valley below and the cliffs high above. It had not looked like this on his last visit. For one thing, Ryukotsusei's body was gone. From the lingering scent, he had been destroyed. InuYasha and Kagome's scents lingered faintly on the rocks around the cliff as well. Half of the mountain, which Ryukotsusei had been sealed to, by his father's claw, was also destroyed. Putting his nose to the wind, Sesshomaru inhaled deeply. There was another scent. One that was almost undetectable, but it was there. Naraku.

Was this another one of Naraku's plots, to kill InuYasha? It seems he prefers to have other demons do his dirty work.

"Lord Sesshomaru." Jaken started, pulling Sesshomaru from his thoughts. "Do you honestly think this is InuYasha's doing?"

Sesshomaru gazed up at the mountain, where Toga had sealed Ryukotsusei more than two hundred years ago. Where the body had yet been, during his last recent visit.

"It's anyone's guess, how he might have accomplished this." The yokai replied to Jaken.

"Indeed. Imagine InuYasha defeating such a formidable foe."

The imp could be such a pain, sometimes Sesshomaru wondered if Jaken wouldn't be happier as InuYasha's vassal instead — since he was always commenting on the hanyo's strength. Sesshomaru had heard and seen enough, he turned away, heading back toward the plains of Musashi. A-un followed closely behind.

Not noticing his master's exit, Jaken continued to talk to himself on the cliff. "It took everything in your father's power to send Ryukotsusei into dormancy…. Wuuahhh! Oh oh ahhh! DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND LORD SESSHOMARU!!!"

The imp's screams grew fainter the farther Sesshomaru walked. A pleasant thought indeed.

"Lord Sesshomaru."

The yokai turned to look at Rin when she spoke. She was just about eye level with him, when she rode on A-un. Her brown eyes met his, they were thoughtful today. Sitting side saddle on A-un, she placed her hands on either side of her legs for balance.

"I've heard Jaken talk about 'the path of supreme conquest', he said it's very important to you to become the strongest demon ever." Rin blinked, twisting her mouth and tilting her head to the side. "But I don't understand, you're already so strong… I can't imagine anyone being stronger than you."

Rin's faith in him was always so steadfast. Unlike Jaken's wavering loyalty. She was as certain as the moon, and the tides. Sesshomaru looked away, his eyes lingering on the path ahead.

"My father was the greatest demon who lived." He paused for a moment, thinking. "He defended all the western lands, he was known by all demons and humans." Turning, he met Rin's eyes again. "I will live up to his memory, and become an even greater demon."

Rin's brown eyes filled with understanding. "Oh! I understand!" She smiled at him. "You want to make your father's memory proud."

That wasn't exactly it… but he didn't correct her. Shifting his gaze away from hers, he couldn't help but recall his fathers scorn, when Sesshomaru told him of his quest for power. The derision in his tone. Then the question that continued to haunt him. No, his father would not be proud of him. For some reason, their paths in life were vastly different, even though the goals seemed to be the same. Something which Sesshomaru still did not understand.